The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I devoured this awesome debut book by Jeff Zentner and now I can't stop thinking about it - teens will LOVE this searingly sad book about the confines of a small town, three best friends, and their senior year. Travis, Dill and Lydia have been bullied throughout high school but Dill has been ostracized totally due to the imprisonment of his totally scary preacher father who believes in handling snakes as part of God's word. He lives in poverty, in fear of becoming like his father and grandfather (yes there is a real concern - you will love the story of Dill's grandpaw, The Serpent King), his mother works endless hours but is as crazy about religion as her husband and forces her son to work off their debts, go to visit his father in prison, and will not allow him to attend college. So life is horrible for Dill. Also he has been in love with Lydia forever and is sick about her leaving for college. Travis is a great big teddy bear who is both viciously beaten and verbally abused by his drunk father. But the three best friends have each other and their dreams in their small minded town. Will they all make it out and live happily ever after? I could not put this totally sad book down, it is a must read. I highly recommend it- Zentner has a way with words, a depth of feeling that I have not found in other books. I will be excitedly looking for his next book- he is one special writer!

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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The 2nd book in the series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, finds Feyre and Tamlin struggling with their arduous time under the mountain with horrible nightmares and intense guilt and insecurity. Also added to her woes is the impending deal she struck with Rhys for saving her from Amarantha. I loved Maas's characters with their scheming, darkness, horror, and magic; the worlds of Feyre, Tamlin & Rhys are lush, beautiful and alluring. I fell in love with Tamlin's world through Feyre's eyes and then the dark lords underworld of dreams and nightmares. And I rooted for Feyre as she learns to use the 7 High Lords powers from Rhy's commanders Cassian, Azriel, Amren and Morrigan. This book is so seductive in so many ways, I could not put it down and I hope I don't have to wait a whole year for the 3rd book!!! I listened to this audiobook, narrated by Jennifer Ikeda and I loved all 23 hours!!! Highly recommended!!!

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The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great book about how Mikey & his friends slog through senior year trying to be "normal" while experiencing many extraordinary things such as blue lights, mountain lions, gods, immortals, love, friendship, OCD, vampires and much, much more. Ness' characters Mike and sisters Mel & Meredith hang out with Henna and Jared and talk about the group of indie kids and vampires and their goings on...life is anything but normal. They are normal kids dealing with some big issues and how will they impact life, prom & graduation?

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Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book for my virtual twitter book club #yabookchat which will occur Sunday, June 5 at 9pm and oh did I love this book & highly recommend this to guidance counselors, teachers, nurses, parents. Riley Cavanaugh is a teen who is gender fluid, has been bullied at one school and has now started at another school. Problem is, Riley is not out to friends, parents (father is running for re-election) but on the advice of therapist Doctor Ann, begins a secret blog as Alix and goes from one to many thousands of followers. As Riley navigates the new school, makes a few friends, but also many enemies, what will happen to Riley/Alix as life gets in the way. I could not put this book down. The character of Riley, her friends Solo & Bec are fully believable/lovable characters as football player Vickers & hater friends are truly bullies, and evil. The author, Jeff Garvin has written an insightful book that will help teens who are struggling with gender identity, anxiety, and depression. His resources at the end of the book will help teens. Highly recommended.

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The Crown by Kiera Cass

The Crown by Kiera Cass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this last book in The Selection Series but I would have liked to see this continue with Eadlyn and her fiancée:) The narrator, Brittany Pressley, was totally awesome and I enjoyed the surprises, royal life, and winnowing of The Elite. I highly recommend this series:)

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Ghost Medicine by Andrew Smith

Ghost Medicine by Andrew Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Andrew Smith; his writing captures my heart and this early book (2008) of his was a winner. There is a tight knit group of friends who live out West on farms- Troy is the main character telling the story about his friends who mean more to him than life- Tom Buller, Gabe & Luz Benanvidez. This is a pivotal summer as Troy grapples with missing his dead mother, being in love with Luz, working for her Dad, and dealing with the sheriff's son, Chase who is a bully, thief, and nasty beyond words. This book was somber, made my heart ache, and I loved learning what good kids these teens were, how much they loved their farm life, the horses, and the hard work. What will their lives hold for them after this summer?

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The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maggie Stiefvater's 4th and final book was mesmerizing as I listened to the audiobook read & performed by Will Patton. I loved Patton's many voices, especially Ronan's (and oh did I love Ronan's dreams). The magic and mayhem surrounding Gansey, Blue, Adam and Ronan was heart stopping, agonizing, and racing against time with the prediction of Gansey's death and finding Glendower. New characters were introduced and old ones were expanded making it nearly impossible to put this book down. I highly recommend this series---I love all of Maggie Stiefvater's books but I think The Raven King has got to be my favorite because of the author's world building, magic and mystery and fantasy, strong characters and twists & turns in a plot that was action packed. Highly recommended!

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Audacity by Melanie Crowder

Audacity by Melanie Crowder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my 27th book read as part of The 2016 Hub Challenge and it is a compelling historical fiction novel in verse about Clara Lemlich who came to the US from Russia with her family in the early 1900s. Clara is a spirited girl who loves learning and wants to make a difference. As a garment worker in NY who toils long hours for meager pay and realizes very quickly she wants to be a voice to help those suffering. Clara has "audacity" and spunk and gives, gives, gives to the workers during this dark time for the working masses. Students will love the Clara's zeal and unrepentant spirit when comes to helping workers better their working conditions.

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Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I re-read this AWESOME book as part of #yearofya May topic of instability and students; join the chat Tuesday 4/24at 8PM EST. Amber Appleton has got to be my favorite strong female character of all time because she is sincere and optimistic but most of all homeless. She lives in a school bus her mom drives and Amber has a little dog who brings her much joy. But most of all Amber spends ALL of her time helping others because she is selfless and a beacon of hope. When something terrifically horrible happens to Amber, she may not be able to take it. What will happen to Amber when JC (Her name for Jesus Christ) seems to forsake her, how will she cope. This is a must read, I have read it twice and it has so many wonderful quotes, you can stop reading and you will love all of Matthew Quick's quirky wonderful characters!!!

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Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This will be another book I suggest to #yearofya May chat and I just loved Audible's Amy Rubinate as she narrated Samantha (Sam's) grappling with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) from the age of 11. Sam decides to keep this secret from her friends, who are not really nice girls, and there is a slippery slope in the pecking order of their friendship. So things begin to change when one day a girl a few lockers down talks to Sam in school and as she gets to know Caroline, Sam begins to see what a true friend is. I liked how vulnerable Sam was but how strong she was when it came to swimming, confiding to her doctor in weekly sessions and trying to control her OCD's dark thoughts and obessions. I learned so much about this disorder from this book and the author has a NOTE at the end with important information. A great read for students, teachers and guidance counselors! Highly recommended!!!

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The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book and so sorry it took me this long to get to the thrilling and heart pounding it!!! But I was also lucky that as soon as I finished this book, I could jump right into the 2nd book, The Rose and the Dagger!!! Renee Ahdieh has written a book with strong characters, beautiful places, and wonderful plots. Oh did I enjoy strong and bold Shazi, Tariq, Khalid. I kept waking up at night wanting to read more, more, more! Like A Thousand and One Nights, Shazi vows to seek justice for her best friend and the others the Monster King has killed. But will all go as planned? A can't put it down read, highly recommended!

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Audacity by Melanie Crowder

Audacity by Melanie Crowder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my 27th book read as part of The 2016 Hub Challenge and it is a compelling historical fiction novel in verse about Clara Lemlich who came to the US from Russia with her family in the early 1900s. Clara is a spirited girl who loves learning and wants to make a difference. As a garment worker in NY who toils long hours for meager pay and realizes very quickly she wants to be a voice to help those suffering. Clara has "audacity" and spunk and gives, gives, gives to the workers during this dark time for the working masses. Students will love the Clara's zeal and unrepentant spirit when comes to helping workers better their working conditions.

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This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp


This book came highly recommended from lists and blogs and oh was it taut, fearful and very angst ridden. School shootings are always difficult to read, be they fiction or nonfiction...Marieke Nijkamp's book is so good because she utilizes four different teen viewpoints (some are in the school, others are outside the school and some are in the auditorium with the shooter bringing the horror home to the reader. I could not put this book down (although I wanted to) and this book will be passed from student to student just for the fear and terror factor. I am also going to use this book in my May twitter chat (Tues May 24 at 8PM EST) with #yearofya on the topic of instability in teen lives. Join us for a powerful discussion on books and resources for teens on this timely topic.

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Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Ashfall by Mike Mullin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this audiobook at part of the 2016 Hub Challenge and oh it was deadly and cringe worthy but the narrator who plays Alex as a sullen teen who is home alone when an underground Volcano erupts was superb!!! Alex goes from being a total jerk to forging against all odds to search for his family in an end of the world struggle that will keep you listening or turning those pages as Alex fights for his life, food, shelter and even the government (FEMA) in horror filled chapter after chapter. I can't wait for the next in this series!

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The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork

The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Francisco Stork books and this fictional book about depression, suicide attempts, recovery and friendship was so moving. I also read this book as part of our May twitter chat we will have on YA/student instabilities they face 5/24 AT 8pm with #yabookchat. Vicky is a teen who has tried to commit suicide and spends time in a mental health facility where she meets and bonds with 3 other mentally ill teens- E.M., Mona and Gabriel. Vicky has a very supportive Doctor in Dr. Desai and a father, sister and step mom who do not understand why this has happened. As Vicky talks in group (gets to know her "friends"), and works in the hospital, she becomes more aware by talking and confronting her feelings that she suffers from depression. What I liked is how Stork shows Vicky and her family being totally shocked that Vicky was in fact depressed, did not understand what depression is, and how she must continue to talk and learn how depression can and will affect her and what tools she will need to keep with her to deal with this throughout her life. I liked the baby steps Vicky took to become mentally strong and how she continued to slowly look at the light and the sun as growth in her life and pledge not to be afraid or lonely anymore. I think this book should be read by all teens, guidance counselors, teachers and parents should read and learn from this book. Stork has taken his own experiences with depression and attempting suicide and woven a stark, realistic, and moving story about overcoming and living day to day with mental illness - highly recommended.

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Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - Audiobook!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this AMAZING audiobook as part of a twitter chat with #2jennsbook club taking place 4/28 at 8pm. This is one of my favorite books EVER and now I am in love with author, Leigh Bardugo, so someone suggested I read her Grisha books and OMG what a treat. What I loved about this narration is that Audible used many narrators for the cast of characters and they got each of the characters' voices PERFECT, especially Kaz. I will certainly be reading & listening to The Crooked Kingdom, only problem is I have to wait TOO LONG!!!

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My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts by Laura T. Coffey

My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts by Laura T. Coffey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, did I love this book with the heart warming stories of senior dogs who have been rescued and given a new lease on life! I will be passing this around to all my friends who love dogs! The photographs are all gorgeous! It is a must read!

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Booked by Kwame Alexander

Booked by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad I read Booked for a twitter chat; we had quite a lively discussion on this book and I highly recommend it to boys, girls, middle grade and high school. Kwame Alexander is just the most awesome author when it comes to novels in verse. His perfect use of words to get his meaning across, allowing readers to infer, and tell a realistic story about a boy, his friends and parents, and his love of soccer, was perfect. Nick Hart is an 8th grader who loves soccer, likes a girl in his dance class, has a great friend in Coby, and is just trying to figure out who he is. Kwame Alexander has penned another book kids will relate to, love and keep passing around to their friends to read. I liked his treatment of the adults in Booked, especially Mr. Mac, the librarian who was front and center, excited about books and his students and went the extra mile. Nick's mom was awesome too- she knew her son, kidded around with him, played games and practiced hard with Nick. Things were not easy for Nick but with all his family and friends, he is able to work his way through life, school, and bullies. Highly recommended!

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